New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-28
HOME STATISTICS OF SUICIDE.
FEATURES or THE CRIME N THE U>ITED STATES
LTGur nIrT RY Study

FEATURES or THE CRIME N THE U>ITED STATES
BR UGH OUT BY STUDY.
Some noteworthy statistics have been published by The
Ch0""e nm Insurance newspaper giving the result Of
record Kept for the five years ending with February
1857 OF the suicides in tho United States they have
been reported in local newspapers throughout the
country. The suicides thus brought to notice number
SIG No alarming increase is to he perceived year by
year exception is made OF the unusually heavy list
lol3-of last year. Tie average for the period gives
about 6i5 to each year. The statistics seem TO show
conclusivey that summer is the when suicides
are the most frequent and winter the season when they
are most infrcquent Spring and autumn furnish about
equal numbers suggesting that these rank about
equal ~ respects influence the crime Of scfdestruc
ton. The difference between summer and winter IA a
large the former yielding % per cent Of
suicide than the latter A regards the months, June
shows the largest list and February the smallest
The classification by Is naturally imperfect but
the fact is wei brought ont that suicide is most common
between the of twenty-five and sixty. The greatest
number reported at single is 2l2 at the age Of
foryve. The of ages Is wide, reaching from five
years to ninety years The record by causes shows
the chief be insanity called Family trouble
accounts for large number OF suicides, while business
trouble love trouble dcstitution, dissipation sickness
and fear Of punishment important causes, more or
less prolific. The classification by also reveals
where the scfdcstroyer has been mpcled to his
fatal act from trivial reasons The classification by con
dltOn shows greater proportion Ot suicides among the
married than the unmarried, which Is contrary to the
accepted theory. Furthermore. whatever the CONDITION.
the suicidal death rate the male sex Is always
heavier than among the female sex shooting, poison
Ing. hanging. drowning and cutting the throat. IN the
order named the means of death commonly adopted
Probably uinctenths OF all suicides taH under one OF
these heads Various other methods however, are 0cca
siontly prlc and eccentric and revolving means or
death, although not infrcqucnt. are not unknown Inc
grouping by nationality does not merit absolute conn
drncc the nationality Is subject In many instances 10
conjecture The excessive suicide rate among Germans
bears ont the theory Of students of the crime OF scc
As the figures stand the suicides among the foreign ce
ncnt al The population considerably OuthhmDcr inc
suicides among Americans.
The list of occupations i long one anl touches abont
all grades OF social station and employment Inc heaV
result ia which AL authorities agree e that huerl'uy
~ not relatively suicides more frequent among thc
agricultural class than any other Tue classification ny
shows that suicides among males are to sWclucS
among females Is 80 to l. Tho distribution by states
and territories gives Illinois the largest number. The
ratio al suicides 20 population Is an interesting ana slS
nihcant point. MOrce. "a European authority on sui
cidcs, speaks Of the centre OF Europe from the norh
east 81 France t. the eastern borders OF Germany as
suoidiecuuus area" In this area suicide reaches the
Niluui OF intensity In the effort Z" ma OUT
Whctucr the United states has /" Suridgenous area
he hTOHc Ia. taken TIE records or suicides ny states
AMI calculated the annual suicides according 10 ue
81 chart wcre constructed" says he chronicle II
would show that our principal Suicdlschous area
hds IL boz Indiana In all directions nom Indiana
the rate uf Suicide falls of. southwark II declines pre-
cIuusly. deaths hy ones own hand owing Ia thc large
African population beng very few ia the southern
states Westward nprthWnrd ANA eastward tue u' ''hl
D. gradual On the idclnc coast htlc u ahotHtl
'silclli s,uui- area with ith centre In Oregon
About i've suicides occur during the hours OF DAY 10
every during tine hours ~ night Tor some uhAhoNu
.ingu-hos the eleventh as day of pronounced 7u'cd"
fatality.